Harbaugh on The Spot: Glad it happened because it will motivate us to be better.
— Kyle Rowland (@KyleRowland) July 25, 2017
Jim Harbaugh has five returning starters from last year’s 10-3 team that lost three of its last four and he sent out a clear signal Tuesday at Big Ten Media Days that he’s glad JT Barrett got the first down and his team lost in what was — to date — the biggest game of the Harbaugh era. He had all the draft picks. Ohio State looked vulnerable. JT Barrett was just trying to find the finish line to his junior season. Michigan had the Buckeyes right where they wanted them.
And then they lost.
And Harbaugh now wants to claim he’s happy with The Spot because it will motivate “us” better. I’m no football expert, but I didn’t think coaches enjoyed losing legacy games to get motivation the next season when they then say “last year was last year, we’re only focused on this season.”
BTW, Michigan fans can now buy shirts commemorating the biggest loss of the Harbaugh era.
Get a head start on the 〽️🏈season! https://t.co/GAtpGJJAPO on sale now. $5 off orders $50+ with discount GOBLUE. pic.twitter.com/6uOCLs2LUi
— Diehard Sport (@Diehardsport) June 26, 2017
Let’s go to the tape where it sounds like Jim says “Now I’m glad it happened.” What? This is the same guy who left Ohio Stadium saying he was “bitterly disappointed” in the refs. Remember how Michigan fans tracked down the ref and harassed him? Remember how they found all these Ohio connections from the refereeing crew and how it was a giant conspiracy so Ohio State would go on and get smashed by Wisconsin.
I smell a fraud answer, Jim.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNC_Ivo8W_8
Let’s be honest here, it’s all he can think about. It’s driving him nuts. He wants to beat Ohio State for Bo. He wants it so bad it keeps him up at night. He knows that was the game. He was supposed to beat Iowa and Ohio State and that Michigan team was going to be the one to bring the program back to being elite. Now he’s answering questions about losing 3 of 4.
But is he having fun? Hell no he’s not having fun.
“No, no,” Harbaugh said. “I’m avoiding all fun stuff. I’m concentrating on preparing ourselves for the season. I’m avoiding all fun things. We lost three of our last four games last year. Two by one point and one by three points in overtime. I didn’t like that feeling. That’s motivated us to pour more time into the football team and our jobs and give more effort and pour more of heart and soul into it and avoid fun stuff.”
